When Labels are Good - Artisanal Beer Cans and Craft Beers of Vermont

WHEN LABELS ARE GOOD

Artisinal Beers

Beer lovers know that craft beer brewers have revolutionized beer-making. Taking simple grains and turning them into a vortex of malt, barley and hop-filled blends of tasty deliciousness has become more art than culinary science. Now, craft breweries are putting actual art on the outside of the cans and bottles that house their flavor-packed beverages. These new, eye-catching designs are popping up on shelves all over the country, with a variety none more eclectic than what is coming from craft breweries in and around Stowe, Vermont.

With a host of breweries in the areas, Stowe

Illustration by Dan Blakeslee

has become known as much for their craft beers as for their maple syrup.

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Stowe-area breweries such as Alchemist

With many breweries canning beer – a

Beer, Idletyme Brewing Company and

move that can be considered

Lost Nation Brewing have all heralded

controversial by die-hard craft beer

the latest trend in creating artful labels

drinkers – this option not only provides

that not only appeal to beer enthusiasts,

an easier, and safer way, to transport

but also represent their brand in an

beer, but a new medium for beer label

innovative way. Going beyond simply

artists to create distinctive designs.

creating graphics that will entice beer buyers to choose their brand over

Alchemist Beer, located in Stowe, has

another, less conspicuous label, Stowe

elevated the art of beer labels to a new

craft brewers have tapped into a

level by including its dramatic designs on

consumer base that not only values more

their merchandise. Their label art can be

complex beer creations, but also an

found on their website, as well as links

appreciation for the aesthetics of the

to the artists who created them, such as

packaging.

Dan Blakeslee, designer of the

Heady Topper (Double India Pale Ale) and Focal Banger (American IPA) cans. Both labels are unique, but are similar in their explosions of pencil and pen simplicity. Each label reveals the brewery’s intricate combination of grains that create a surge of flavor in each bottle.

It is difficult to distinguish which is more visionary – what is in the bottle or what is on the outside.

Idletyme Brewing Company’s colorful beer bottle labels are designs that can easily be featured on an art gallery wall as on their products. Labels for beer such as the Pink N’ Pale Grapefruit Infused Ale, which resembles a worker stoking an oven fire, or Zog’s American Pale Ale, which is easy to spot with its bicyclists, make it so that beer drinkers might want to keep the bottles as artwork to adorn their home or office.

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Not only does Idletyme display art on

It’s easy to see – and taste – the

their bottles, but visitors to their brew

combination of European beer recipes

pub in Stowe can also admire the art on

and local, Vermont living in and on each

display in their gallery – including, their

can of Lost Nation.

iron forged tap handles, crafted by a local blacksmith.

The image of the bucolic barn is easy to identify to Vermont beer-drinkers as belonging to the European-style ales and lager makers, Lost Nation Brewing in nearby Morrisville, Vermont. Available in both bottles and cans, this brewery surrounds each container with an image representative of the beer inside. From the hoppy, Roll Way IPA, with its greencovered RV, to the German-looking bridge and castle on the label for their Vermont Pilsner, each label corresponds to the tasty contents within.

With so many original breweries in Vermont, it’s the ideal place to visit for beer and art lovers, alike. Make a long weekend of brew tours and tastings and stay at Topnotch Resort – the place to stay when visiting Stowe. Book the Bed, Bike & Brew package at Topnotch Resort in Stowe, Vermont and receive a mountain bike rental, water bottle, and a four-pack of Alchemist Beer’s Heady Topper to help start your beer tasting experience. Add on a beer tasting tour to complete the experience. For more information, visit TopnotchResort.com

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beer Holder There are more than 30 craft breweries in Vermont more per capita than any other state. That may be why Jason Wilson of The Washington Post post called Vermont the Napa Valley of Beer. In addition to great beer, these brewers have great art. Here are a few more of our favorites.

For a map of breweries, visit VermontBrewers.com.

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Burlington Beer designer Steve McDonald says that Scandinavian design style has inspired the company's branding and illustration approach.

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Long Trail has several labels we love - Over the Handle Bars, Unearthed, Space Juice... to name a few - but our favorite for its details is the Limbo IPA label.

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Magic Hat Brewing holds the Labels for Libations, an annual art contest for a label.

Hilary Glass’ (@hilaryannlovetattoos) design appeared on Art Hop Ale cans 2016 summer. www.magichat.net/seaba/

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Otter Creek's groovy designs are credit to the art director Brett Murray and senior graphic designer Dale Donaldson.

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The Buzz on Beer Festivals Jason Powell and Mike Scarlata, the founders of Ten Bends Brewery of Hyde Park, Vermont, share their favorite Vermont beer festivals. Focusing on small-batch brews, Ten Bends is sold in restaurants throughout the state. They also offer their beers in growlers and recently started selling in cans which are available in select stores throughout Vermont.

We are fans of the Northern Heights design by Scott Saunders of Design 7 Studio. Scott explained: “Northern Heights” is printed with a translucent look so that the shiny silver would show through, particularly in the areas of the Northern Lights illustration and star-scape."

Vermont Brewers Festival - Burlington The Vermont Brewers Festival in Burlington, VT is the largest brew festival in the state. It is held on the beautiful Burlington waterfront every July. The event is hosted by the Vermont Brewers Association (VBA).

The Stowe Brewers Festival Held in July in scenic Stowe, VT. For a laid back festival with an excellent number of Vermont breweries and distilleries in attendance. A great opportunity to chat with the local brewers and enjoy spirits from some of the best breweries around.

Vermont Brewers Festival - Killington Also hosted by the VBA, the first annual event will take place in Killington, VT in March 2018. The festival will feature many special collaboration beers that will not be found anywhere else.

Topnotch Beer Dinners Topnotch Resort in Stowe, VT will launch a beer-pairing dinner series in Spring 2018. This resort has an incredible culinary team with a focus on farm-to-fork and a beer pairing dinner is a natural.

BEER PAIRING DINNER SERIES Topnotch Resort Stowe, Vermont Brewing in 2018